Netanyahu pushes back after Vance's 'only ally' remark, says '1.4 billion Indians support Israel'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has cited India's support for Israel in an apparent rebuttal to US Vice President JD Vance's recent remarks suggesting the United States was the Jewish state's only powerful remaining ally.

Speaking in an interview with Fox News, Netanyahu said Israel enjoyed strong backing from several countries including India, referring to the support of "1.4 billion Indians."

During the interview, Netanyahu acknowledged that no country matched the United States in terms of its strategic partnership with Israel, describing Washington as an indispensable ally. However, he stressed that Israel was far from isolated, pointing to the support it continued to receive from countries beyond the US.

Besides India, Netanyahu also referred to backing from other nations, arguing that Israel maintained strong friendships across the world despite mounting international criticism over its military campaign in Gaza.

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His remarks came days after Vance, speaking during an Independence Day event in New York, argued that while Israel had friends around the world, the United States remained the only country with the military, diplomatic and political strength to consistently stand behind the Jewish state. Vance's comments came amid growing debate in Washington over US support for Israel as the war in Gaza continues.

Netanyahu's decision to single out India highlights the growing importance of bilateral ties that have expanded significantly over the past decade. Once driven largely by defence cooperation, the India-Israel partnership now spans sectors including agriculture, water management, innovation, cybersecurity, semiconductors and critical technologies.

India is also among Israel's largest defence partners, with cooperation deepening steadily since Prime Minister Narendra Modi's landmark visit to Israel in 2017—the first ever by an Indian prime minister.

New Delhi has maintained a nuanced position on the Gaza conflict. Following the October 7 Hamas attacks, India strongly condemned terrorism and expressed solidarity with Israel, while also repeatedly calling for the protection of civilians, uninterrupted humanitarian assistance and a negotiated two-state solution. This balanced approach has enabled India to strengthen strategic ties with Israel while preserving its longstanding relationships across the Arab world.

Netanyahu's remarks come at a time when Israel is seeking to demonstrate that it continues to enjoy the support of influential international partners despite increasing diplomatic pressure over the war. By publicly referencing India and its 1.4 billion people, the Israeli leader highlighted the significance Jerusalem attaches to its relationship with New Delhi, one of its most important strategic partners outside the Western alliance.

While the United States remains Israel's closest security partner, Netanyahu's comments suggest Jerusalem is also keen to emphasise the breadth of its international relationships. His reference to India reflects not only the growing depth of bilateral ties but also New Delhi's rising diplomatic profile as a major global power whose support carries increasing strategic and political weight.